What is Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS)

Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS) also known as Mind Body Syndrome (MBS) or Psychophysiological disorder,

is a condition originally coined by the late John E. Sarno, MD, a retired professor of Clinical Rehabilitation Medicine at New York University School of Medicine, & attending physician at the Howard A. Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine at New York University Medical Cenrd A. Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine at New York University Medical Center.ter.TMS/MBS is responsible for upward of 85% of chronic or unexplained pain and symptoms. It causes physical symptoms, such as fibromyalgia and gastrointestinal issues that are not due to pathological or structural abnormalities, sporting injuries and are not explained by diagnostic tests. This doesn’t mean to say a sports injury or any injury for that matter can’t trigger the onset of TMS. Car accidents, surgical operations and sports injuries are common triggers for TMS.

The latest neuroscience research and empirical data suggests that with TMS/MBS symptoms are caused by learnt neural pathways via the central nervous system. Just like phantom limb pain (amputees can still experience chronic pain, even after a limb has been removed), the aching or stabbing in your body is the result of a conditioned response developed between your brain and body and not because of physical damage, structural abnormality or muscle imbalances etc. 

“According to a survey we did a number of years ago, 40 percent of a typical group of patients reported that the pain began in association with some kind of physical incident. For some it was a minor automobile accident, usually the hit-from-behind type. Falls, on the ice or down steps, were common. Lifting a heavy object or straining was another; and of course running, tennis, golf or basketball were often blamed. The pain began anywhere from minutes to hours or days after the incident, raising some important questions about the nature of pain. Some of the reported incidents were trivial, such as bending over to pick up a toothbrush or twisting to reach into a cupboard, but the ensuing pain might be just as excruciating as that experienced by someone who was trying to lift a refrigerator”  John E Sarno

What is a conditioned response?

In neuroscience there is a saying, “Neurons that fire together, wire together”. A conditioned response results when two or more neurons repeatedly fire at the same time creating an associated reaction. Neurons are cells within the nervous system that transmit information to other nerve cells, muscles, or gland cells. In the case of TMS/MBS it is an emotional response that becomes wired to a physical (pain/symptom) response. This is also seen in post viral fatigue, chronic fatigue, lymes disease and other so called “chronic” conditions. The body has long since healed the acute condition but the brain has learnt the symptoms and has become stuck in a painful conditioned feedback loop between brain and body. We can consider the brain similar to a mockingbird. It is able to mimic the symptoms of illness long after the physical trauma or virus has passed.

Learn more about the conditioned response here